INDIANAPOLIS — Police reports show a 13-year-old, 14-year-old and 15-year-old were arrested for allegedly attempting to break into Indy Arms Co., a firearms retailer and training center, around 3:30 a.m. Monday, March 11.
Reports show it's the second time in two days thieves have tried to enter the store near East 56th Street and North Keystone Avenue in the early morning hours.
"They damaged the first layer, and the second layer held up," said Richard Cass, owner of Indy Arms Co., as he pointed to his partially-damaged front door. He said it was kicked and hit Saturday morning and Monday morning.
"13-, 14- and 15-year-old kids out there at 3:30 and 4:30 in the morning. I blame the parents. The parents should know where their kids are," Cass said. "These are kids, but I hope they're charged as adults because they did an adult crime."
Cass said the number of arrests doesn't add up to the number of people his cameras caught trying to break into his business.
"There was definitely four individuals, including the driver of the car," Cass said.
Police reports show Saturday morning, about 30 minutes after the suspects attempted to break into Cass' business, 500 Guns, near 16th Street and Tibbs Avenue, was successfully broken into, and nine AR-15 rifles were stolen.
"Firearms facilities, they are targets for criminal activity," Cass said.
Cass told 13News he is nearly positive the suspects who stole from 500 Guns are the same suspects that attempted to break into his business Saturday and Monday.
"I haven't seen their video, I haven't seen their footage, but during investigations and talking to other entities and stuff like that, it's a match," Cass said.
"It's scary, right? We've got kids that are possessing high-powered firearms," said John Nokes, assistant special agent in charge with ATF's Columbus Division.
Nokes said they investigate every burglary or attempted burglary of a licensed firearms retailer.
"That's why we take this very serious, and we'll do whatever it takes to get those firearms back," Nokes said.
A police report shows those three teenagers have each been preliminarily charged with felony burglary.
IMPD also said the teens were driving a stolen Kia and fled from police before they were taken into custody.
The Marion County Prosecutor's Office told 13News these cases will be filed in juvenile court and said the statutory age for a direct file into adult court is 16.